Diaphragm operated valve



Nov. 27, 1945.

RB. DRANE l DIAPHRAGM OPRATED VALVE Filed June 6, 1944 Patented -Nov. 27, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE DIAPHRAGM OPERATEI) VALVE Phillips B. Drane, Tulsa, Okla. Application June 6, 1944, Serial No. 538,935

(o1. isi-s) 4 Claims.

The invention relates to iiuid pressure operated valves of the diaphragm type, and has for its object to provide a device of this type which can be iinely adjusted and one wherein dual diaphragms are utilized for obtaining the ne adjustment and pressure accuracy.

A further object is to provide a diaphragm valve cooperating with a valve seat and to form the diaphragm from an upper and lower member, the lower member cooperating with the valve seat and provided with means whereby pressure will flow between the diaphragms and act on the under side of the upper diaphragm for unseating the lower diaphragm from the valve seat and allowing the passage of pressure iluid through the valve seat port from the upstream side to the down stream side of the regulator.

A A further object is to provide a valve stem carried by the diaphragm and axially movable through the valve seat port and spring means cooperating with said valve stem for regulating the amount of pressure necessary to unseat the lower flexible diaphragm from the valve seat.

A further object is to provide spacer means between the diaphragms around their edges and between the diaphragms around the valve stem so that the pressure uid can easily pass between the diaphragms for the unseating operation by acting on the under side of the upper diaphragm for unseating the lower diaphragm from the valve seat.

A further object is to provide a diaphragm valve so constructed that the flutter is reduced to a minimum when the valve opens.

With the above and other objects in view the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter set forth,

shown in the drawing, described and claimed, it

being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the regulator valve showing the parts in closed position.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure l, showing the valve unseated.

Referring to the drawing. the numeral I designates the valve casing through which the pressure uid flows from the upstream side a to the down stream side b. Casing I is provided with a valve seat 2, with which the diaphragm valve, hereinafter set forth, cooperates.

eThe vdiaphragm valve comprises an upper member 3 of fabricated material and a lower diaphragm 4 of flimsy material which will more readily conform to contours and particularly to the valve seat 2. Diaphragms 3 and 4 are maintained in spaced relation around their edges by the spacer 5. interposed between the casing ange 6 and the valve casing cover 1. Vertically slidable in a bearing 8 of the cover 'l is a valve stem 9, the upper end of which is reduced and slidably mounted in. a bearing I0 o1 an adjustment follower II.

Adjustment follower II is threaded at I2 into the upper end of the chamber I3 and interposed between the follower Il and the cup I l on the stem 9 is an expansion spring I6. It will be seen that by regulating the follower II the amount of downward pressure on the stem 9 may be accurately adjusted to the desired pressure for the valve unseating operation. 'I'he lower end of the valve stem 9 is slidably mounted in .a guide aperture I6 so that the rvalve stem is axially guided in relation to the valve seat 2. Valve stem 9 is provided with a flange I1 en gaged by the back up plate I8 which is convexed in relation to the diaphragm 3 so it -will not cut the diaphragm during the flexing of the diaphragm. Mounted on the valve stem 9 between the diaphragms 3 and 4 is a spacer washer I9, and also held on the valve stem 9 belofw the -imsy diaphragm 4 by means of a nut 20 is al washer 2l which passes into and out of the discharge port as the valve operates.

The adjustment follower II is adjusted to permit opening of the valve at a predetermined pressure. When the fluid on the upstream side builds up to the predetermined pressure, it passes through the apertures 22 in the flimsy diaphragm and acts against the under side of the more rigid diaphragm 3, thereby raising the valve stem 9 to the position shown in Figure 2, at which time there is a slight iuttering of the lower diaphragm, and the uid then iiows through the valve seat to the down stream side b, until the pressure in the upstream side is reduced, at which time the valve stem moves downwardly stretching the lower diaphragm 4 over the bevelled sides of the spacer washer I9 as clearly shown in Figure 1, thereby again cutting off the iiow. It will be noted that all washers and valve seats have rounded edges so there is no danger of cutting the diaphragms, and the washer I9 and spacer 5 maintain the diaphragms spaced so that the pressure can easily pass between the diaphragms for the unseating operation.

It will also be noted that the lower ilimsy diaphragm will always hang limp as the. pressure is always on both the top and bottom sides ofthe lower diaphragm, however the pressure will only act on the under side oi' the upper diaphragm against the spring action for the unseating operation. When the lower diaphragm is slightly raised above the seat it will utter allowing only small volumes of tluid to pass through the regulator. It has been found that this fluttering action is very gentle, consequently does not set up when the valve is closed or open, said lower diaphragm being formed of a less rigid material than the upper diaphragm, a spacing member carried by the valve stem and interposed between the diaphragms and adapted to move through the valve port and to flex and stretch the lower diaphragm to seat the same on the valve seat.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1 including a pressure regulating means cooperating with the valve stem for setting the valve to open at a predetermined pressure.

3. A device as set forth in claim 1 including a dished backing plate engaging the upper side of the upper diaphragm, a washer engaging the under side of the lower diaphragm and means on the stem for clamping said last named washer, the lower diaphragm,.the spacing member, the upper diaphragm and the backing plate together.

4. A device as set forth in claim 1 including spaced guide bearings for the valve stem above and below the valve seat.

PHILLIPS B. DRANE. 

